Analysis in in situ prepared surfaces of an iron oxide based dehydrogenation catalyst

An X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic study is presented for an industrial catalyst surface, which is in its active form only accessible after reaction under technical conditions. A high pressure‐high temperature reactor was attached to a surface analysis system. It allowed rapid transfer of a sample between the reaction environment and the UHV required for surface analysis. The active phase was identified as a ternary iron potassium oxide. No evidence was found for the previously suggested presence of a binary potassium hydroxide or carbonate phase in solid or liquid form. A new model of the active catalyst is proposed.